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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kanna Vaa Kanna Vaa (Sad)

From Vengaiyin Mainthan · 1984

Lyricist
Pulamaipithan
Singer
M. S. Rajeswari
Music director
Shankar Ganesh
Movie name
Vengaiyin Mainthan
Movie release year
1984
Lyrics added on
15 Mar 2023

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Kannaa vaa kannaa vaa
Kaalam muzhuthum onnaa vaa
Mannaa vaa mannaa vaa
Mannil thavazhum vennilavaa
Engaeyo nee irunthaal idhayam punnaagum
Paattai kettu mugaththai kaattu
Kannaa vaa kannaa vaa
Kaalam muzhuthum onnaa vaa
Mannaa vaa mannaa vaa
Mannil thavazhum vennilavaa
Munnerum paathaiyilae
Mullirukkum anjaathae
Sooriyanai moodi vaikka
Megangalaal aagaathae
Munnerum paathaiyilae
Mullirukkum anjaathae
Sooriyanai moodi vaikka
Megangalaal aagaathae
Sundeligal suththi ninnu
Singaththathaan enna pannum
Sundeligal suththi ninnu
Singaththathaan enna pannum
Ilanthalirae nee ezhunthu nillu
Edhu varattum nee edhirththu nillu
Thanneeru illaama
Thaththalikkum veraattam
Ennai vittu nee ponaa
Eththanaiyo poraattam
Thanneeru illaama
Thaththalikkum veraattam
Ennai vittu nee ponaa
Eththanaiyo poraattam
Ennaalum intha manam
Kannaa un nanthavanam
Ennaalum intha manam
Kannaa un nanthavanam
Nee sirichchaa naan sirichchiruppaen
Nee pirinjaa naan thudichchiruppaen
Kannaa vaa kannaa vaa
Kaalam muzhuthum onnaa vaa
Mannaa vaa mannaa vaa
Mannil thavazhum vennilavaa
Engaeyo nee irunthaal idhayam punnaagum
Paattai kettu mugaththai kaattu
Kannaa vaa kannaa vaa
Kaalam muzhuthum onnaa vaa
Mannaa vaa mannaa vaa
Mannil thavazhum vennilavaa
Come, Kanna, come!
Walk beside me for all of time!
Come, my king, come!
O moon crawling upon the earth!
If you are far away somewhere, my heart will ache.
Hear my song and show your face!
Come, Kanna, come!
Walk beside me for all of time!
Come, my king, come!
O moon crawling upon the earth!
On the path moving forward,
there will be thorns, do not fear.
To cover and hide the sun,
clouds will never have the power.
On the path moving forward,
there will be thorns, do not fear.
To cover and hide the sun,
clouds will never have the power.
Even if little mice surround it,
what can they ever do to a lion?
Even if little mice surround it,
what can they ever do to a lion?
O tender young sprout, rise and stand tall!
Whatever comes your way, stand firm and face it!
Without any water,
just like a root struggling to live,
if you ever leave me and go,
there will be endless struggle.
Without any water,
just like a root struggling to live,
if you ever leave me and go,
there will be endless struggle.
Forever and always, this heart
is your flower garden, Kanna!
Forever and always, this heart
is your flower garden, Kanna!
If you smile, I will be smiling.
If you leave me, I will suffer in pain.
Come, Kanna, come!
Walk beside me for all of time!
Come, my king, come!
O moon crawling upon the earth!
If you are far away somewhere, my heart will ache.
Hear my song and show your face!
Come, Kanna, come!
Walk beside me for all of time!
Come, my king, come!
O moon crawling upon the earth!
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This song is a tender and encouraging call to a child or young hero ('Kanna'), pouring out deep maternal affection while instilling courage for the journeys ahead. The speaker addresses the child as a crawling moon on earth and reassures him that no obstacle can dull his true potential, using powerful imagery like clouds failing to block the sun and mice being unable to threaten a lion.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uvamai)

Mannil thavazhum vennilavaa

Compares the child to a moon crawling on the ground ('Mannil thavazhum vennilavaa') and the speaker's heart to a flower garden ('Ennaalum intha manam Kannaa un nanthavanam').

Analogy / Symbolism

Sooriyanai moodi vaikka Megangalaal aagaathae

Uses nature imagery of clouds vs. sun and mice vs. lion to symbolize how petty obstacles or enemies cannot overpower true greatness.

Simile (Upama)

Thanneeru illaama Thaththalikkum veraattam

Compares the anguish of separation to a plant root struggling to survive without water ('Thanneeru illaama thaththalikkum veraattam').

Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)

Kannaa vaa kannaa vaa / Kaalam muzhuthum onnaa vaa

Repetition of initial consonant sounds across paired phrases, such as 'Kannaa' / 'Kaalam' and 'Mannaa' / 'Mannil'.

Did you know?

Trivia

Sung by the legendary M.S. Rajeswari, who was iconic in Tamil cinema for her distinctively youthful voice suited for child roles and gentle lullabies. The track features music by the popular composer duo Shankar-Ganesh, with lyrics crafted by Pulamaipithan for the 1984 film Vengaiyin Mainthan.

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